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"Contender" Suicide Stuns Sly
It was a blow Sylvester Stallone didn't see coming.
The 58-year-old Rocky star says he and Mark Burnett were shocked to learn that Najai Turpin, a 23-year-old aspiring prize fighter who took part in their forthcoming elimination-style boxing reality series, The Contender, had committed suicide in Philadelphia earlier this week.
"I couldn't believe my ears so I asked him to repeat it," Stallone recounted to reporters in a conference call Thursday of first hearing the news from show coproducer Jeff Wald.
Turpin shot himself in the head Monday while sitting in a parked car with his girlfriend outside his gym at about 4 a.m. Police are investigating, but have not yet disclosed a reason for the suicide. Turpin's manager has said the young fighter "had a lot of stuff on his mind," including the drive-by murder of a fellow Philly boxer.
Burnett suggested that Turpin's rough background may have played a part. "Najai wouldn't sleep on the bed at The Contender because he was so used to sleeping under the bed or in the closet for fear of various things, between bullets and burglars and robbers and home invasions and the sort of things that no one on this call has had to deal with," Burnett said.
Stallone said he did not believe The Contender somehow contributed to Turpin's death.
"This unfortunate occurrence seems to have nothing to do with boxing but other personal issues that we really don't know much about," said Stallone.
The actor is hosting The Contender with boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard. The series will debut as scheduled Mar. 7 on NBC, despite the Turpin tragedy.
Turpin, whose nickname was "Nitro," is described by Stallone in the premiere episode as a "tough, punchy street kid from Philadelphia fighting for a better life for his family." He was one of 16 fighters duking it out in the ring for $1 million in prize money and a shot at a full-fledged boxing career.
Based on statement from the network that the Contender will not have to be substantially retooled in the wake of his death and subsequent comments made by Burnett, all signs indicate the scrappy middleweight with a 13-1 record may not have made it into the final round of the reality competition.
The final episodes of The Contender, which began taping six months ago, will feature live bouts with fighters selected by fans and will conclude with a championship showdown scheduled for May at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.
"He's in multiple episodes," Burnett said Thursday. "There will be a tribute to him in the series. It's not something we're going to ignore. It's also something we're not going to change."
Both Stallone and Leonard paid tribute to their protégé.
"I loved this man. I loved what he stood for. He was incredibly brave. When he was with his child, you saw the child in him come out," Stallone said.
"He was a softspoken young man who was both a talented boxer and also respected by his peers on the show. Everyone is highly distraught over this loss--he will be missed," said Leonard in a statement on NBC's Contender Website.
Both Stallone and Leonard planned to attend Turpin's funeral in Philadelphia set for Friday. Turpin is survived by his girlfriend and two-year-old daughter, both of whom are featured in the show. NBC is encouraging viewers to contribute to a trust fund set up for the little girl.
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